Animal trap



March 1948. C, w, CRUMRINE ANIMAL TRAP Filed Dec. 17, '1942 Patented Mar. 9, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANMAL TRAP Application December 17, 1942, Serial No. 469,309

This invention relates to animal traps and particularly to automatic traps which are especially useful in the extermination of rodents.

In another application for Letters Patent led concurrently herewith and bearing Serial No. 469,308 filed December 17, 1942, the present applicant discloses an animal trap whose broad principles are similar to those of the present application. In both cases trap means are provided wherein there is an unobstructed trap zone and the mere presence of an animal therein initiates a cycle of operation which includes positively and forcibly moving the animal to a confined area where it is electrocuted, following which the body of the animal is automatically moved from the electrocution area to free the same for subsequent electrocution of another animal. In both cases, movement of the animal body to the electrocution area is immediately followed by return of the animal-moving means to initial position to condition the moving means for forcibly moving another animal to the electrocution area upon entry of such other animal into the trapping zone.

In both the present application and the other application referred to above, the cycle of operation is short in duration and the complete cycles of disposition of animals may overlap to some extent. The eiiciency of trapping devices constructed according to the present invention is very high and conditions in highly infested areas may be satisfactorily dealt with.

In the exemplary form of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawing and described in the ensuing specification, light sensitive means are provided for initiating the trapping and disposing cycle and the general relationship of the light sensitive means and the electrical means for moving and electrocuting the animal are similar to those set forth in detail in the aforesaid other application.

In the construction shown and described herein more complex animal-moving means are provided but the greater vcomplexity is offset by the fact that a very much larger trapping zone may be` established and adequately dealt with. To this end the present construction contemplates plural cooperating animal-moving means and in the illustrated form a swinging member swings from one side of a relatively wide animal passage to a point partway across the passage where it is met by a second movable member which has swung from the opposite side of the passage. In the present instance the ilrst movable member stops at this point while the second movable 8 Claims. (Cl. 43-74) member continues to move the animal upwardly to the entrance portion of an electrocution space or chamber.

Since each of the animal-moving elements must i cover only a part of the trapping zone a larger trapping zone may be employed while still providing for the covering of the entire trapping zone by the moving means in'a period of time short enough to eliminate any possibility of escape of the animal. Removal of the animal from the unobstructed trapping zone is substantially instantaneous.

While specific details of the construction are shown in the drawing and described herein by way of example, it is to be understood that the spirit and scope of the invention are not limited hereto or otherwise than as defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view on the line I-I of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the device taken on the line II--II of Fig. 1, with parts broken away for added clearness;

Fig. 3 is a detail view oi an operator for the primary animal-moving means viewed as in Fig. 1 but on an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 4 is a diagram of the electrical circuit connections or wiring.

Throughout the several iigures of the drawing, like characters of reference denote like parts and the numeral III designates generally a box-like casing having a bottom wall, II; front and rear walls I2 and I3, respectively; side walls I4 and I5; and a top closure wall I6 hinged to the side wall I 4 as at Il. It will be noted thata portion of the bottom wall II is broken away to. form a passageway I9, Fig. 1, and this clear, wide passageway extends entirely from the front wall I2 to the rear wall I3, there being entrance ways formed in these two walls at each end of the passageway I9. The entranceways in the walls .I2 and I3 are designated 2| and 22, respectively, and cooperate with the passageway I9 to provide a clear and uninterrupted zonewhich, in the illustrated embodiment, forms a mere continuation of the door or other surface upon which the trap may be resting. It is during the free passage of an animal Vthrough this zone. that its freedom is abruptly arrested and the entire trapping and disposing cycle is begun and automatically continued to completion. i

A light source is designated 24 and rays' therefrom are projected across the passageway .19 where they are received by. a photoelectric kcell (not shown) which forms a part of a photoelectric relay unit designated in Fig. 1. As is stated in the companion application Serial No. 469,308, units of this kind are available commercially and accordingly the details need not be shown. In the present instance the relay will be so connectedthatfailure or interruptionof: the light beam from the source 24 momentarily closes a micro-switch associated with the relay 25.

Movement of an animal across the light loeam.Y

accordingly energizes circuits associated Ywith the micro-switch, and, as will appear from'the following, means are thereby .actuated .tosin'ove' the animal from the open passageway YIifltogv a confined position in the casing-10. The numeral 28 designates generally one-ofthe animal-moving elements and'this elementpomprises a pivot rod 29 having a plurality of bars or tines 3U depending therefrom. If desiredg'although not necessarily, the element 28 may be reinforcedby the'presenceof bars S3 and.34 `which connect 'the' bottom ends of theseveraldepending bars 30. A bar portion is offset upwardly from thebottom bars 133 and 34 to avoid :interference withf the light' beam from the `source 1241 in :its passage I to the "light: Vsensitive means.

ThepivottrodrZg of the'element'ZSwmay -be suitably journaledin a pair ofbearingsi 35 which in' the :illustrated instance are secured Yagainst the front-rand `rear` walls' I2fand' I3 respectively. Merelyrifor clearness 'of .description,.=y the 'element 28 will be referred to hereinafter as the-primary animahmovingrelement, and acoo'perating animal=moving Lelement vabout'ftoabe described.y will bereerred'to a' secondary animale-moving 'elementiv It isito be .borne rinzmind', however; vthat this lterminology'does not require that thetwo elements move the animal in any particularfsequence. As will appear, the sofcalled secondary animal-moving; element Vmay :in fact 'be therfirst to engage the body of an animal andlmove' it. u Afsec'on'dary animal-movingelem-ent is designated generally4ii .in '.Figsl '1T 'and' 2. and A.comprises a. pivot rod2411having aplurality of spaced parallel fftines .422". projecting t4 perpendicularly therefrom. f The pivot rod 4I', -like'zthat of #the element 28, may.' -.be=ip1'ovicled with 'bearings =*43 andY v'44 '-carriediflbyl the front fand 'reare Walls. respectively, of the casing.

Movement of theelements 281andf'40rini'the operation of positivelyz'removingfan animalfbody fromrrthe passageway .'I9proceeds Lin the following 1manner. The element '28 andf :the velement 40'1may begin' rotation simultaneously, the former in a counterclockwise direction andr thezlatterv in a fclockwiseildirection; :and 1' their rotation 1 is rso timed "that 'they @reach the dotllandzdashr .line positionsvzof'lig. 1 simultaneously The :animal is. at that-time -confinedfb'etween'rthe elements 28-,"ar1d-"40.=".fAty thisntimetheprimary element 28 ceases 'lrotation Abut the secondary felement *40 'cntinues uninterruptedly'lto complete a lfull'srotation .ofi-360` :to: 'its original iposition. .'In- 'so doing it :passes what? is in` 'effect a rampvel'em'ent 48V which comprises a 'seriesi of; parallellro'ds ror tines E"4i-each4 secured Aat .one Y endflto a `mount-r ing board "50" which -extendsthe .full zlengthfof casing L=I and` is 'secured 'at'.its ends' fto theI yinterior .surfaces of? the front land'rear walls I2 and I1I3. 4flfhe ftines :'49 are i staggered -withV `respectt kthefizines4 42 ofzzthe"secondaryfelement 40 to permit .thel'atterto' .pass'the' lrampf freely? in its rotative fmovement.

fWh'enf the element 40 :passes from the l'arcuate porti'ori of' the primary element 28it':reaches a curved wall 53 secured at its ends to the front and rear walls of the casing. The wall 53 confines the animal body to movement with the element 40 until it is directed therefrom by engagement with the ramp 48. Centrifugal force causes the animal body to move over the crest of theramp '48'to an electrocution .compartment formed by .the median-portions of theftines 49 and a pivoted retaining means designated gen- .:and'frear wa'lls of the casing.

uThe retaining means 58 comprises a pivot bai' "59 'journaled in bearings 60 secured to the front The pivot bar 59 has ya;11: luiality.zof depending tines or bars 6I secured pe'rr-Je'ndicularly thereto form a wall por- Various meansmay be employed to actuate the primary and secondary animal-moving elements '28andi4 in their proper timed relationship. In the exemplary form illustrated in the drawing an electromagnet-62 is so disposed that its-armature GSYmay-be extended-to pivotally engage 'an operator 64 xed to the pivot 4rodvIB of rtheprimary element 28.` An annular windingtl 'for fthe electromagnet is shown-in dotted-dines'finFig. 1. The opposite endof'the armature :'63 has' iix'ed thereto a 'rack element-55 which has'rat'chet teethv for engagement with' a fratchet wheeli xed .tol the pivot- -bar 4I -of theHsecondary 4element-40.` A-springzleaft may fbeprovided-for maintaining resilient engagement between Ithe rack- S5 arid'the'ratchet` wheeltiwsozthatthe rack 65 can :rotate t-the ratchet wheel "66s only in a clockwise direction.

The armature 63V isnormally'v biased to an upper left-hand/-position as'viewed inA Fig; l'fby a compression springi69 which has'one end Ifixed tofarinature` 632and its other endseating against electromagnet .62. Whenthe electromagnet -62 isenergized, the .armature-'63 is urged 4:in a' direction toward 'the secondary Vmoving 'meansML The relative sizes of theI parts L`are-suchJthat thismovement Aimparts aisingle full 'rotation' yto the secondary moving means 40 which accordingly returns tov its 'initial' positionl where' itl is resiliently retained byV resilientA detentsn 10. The detents V270 comprise flatfplates-secured 'against blocks-12 which. are .in :turn rigidly fastened to front andrrear `walls I2'and I3 as'appears in Fig. 2. -Ea'chplate `II) has aL pairof vparallelridges which Yprovide a; detent for receivingandvresiliently retaining the-'end tines 42 therebetween. f Duringl movement of the armature-Wunder the urge ofthe electromagnet -62 a pivot pin 'II carried bythe extended end of the armature 63 'engages a 'slot 'I3 formed in the'operatortlly which is secured to thepivot bar ofthe primary;mov ingmeans. This slot is `so rformed and proportioned that the'initial movement `of-the armature i63 .moves' the 1 operator 64, and accordingly the primary moving Vmeans'Zii, ltothe 4dot'iand dash line'positionfof Fig; 3. This corresponds to the'dot and dash lineposition of the primary elementf` 28 shown in Fig. 1, and'fthis position' is reached at the time whenrotati'on'of. thesecondary means 4|] has justreached -the :dot 'and dash linevpositionzof Fig. 1.

Continued movement `of 'the armature 63 does not 'change the positionof the operator 645er the moving meansi28, since the pin 'II' rides yinthe portion of the slot which is then coincident'with the direction of movement of the v.armature :63. During this time the pin'TI does servetoprevent return 'movement 'of 1'the .primary'zmoving lelement-28v throughv engagement ofthe upperright hand side of thepin 1| with the wall of the slot13. Return movement of the primary moving means 28 is effected upon de-energization of the electromagnet 62 and consequent return movement of the armature 83. During such return movement the teeth of the rack 65 ride idly over the periphery of the ratchet wheel 68 and the position of the secondary moving means 40 is not disturbed.

As previously stated, the medial portions of the tines 49 of the ramp 48 cooperate with the tines 6| of the swinging member 58 to form an electrocuting compartment. The electrical relationship between the photoelectric relay 25, the operating electromagnet 62, and the electrocuting circuit is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4 of the drawings. In the particular exemplication of the invention illustrated, the tines 49 are electrically connected to form a single electrode, the tines 6| of the retaining means 58 being the opposite electrode. The mounting board 50 forms suitable insulation for the tines 49. The retaining means 58 is provided with an insulating mounting of conventional form (not shown). Referring to Fig. 4 of the drawings, and |0| designate input leads for the conventional photoelectric relay 25, and |02 and |03 are output leads from the relay connected with the electromagnet 82 so that the electromagnet will be energized when the beam from the lamp 24 to the relay 25 is interrupted. The circuit includes parallel conductors |04 and |05, and included in the circuit is a primary transformer winding |06 of a transformer designated generally A in Fig. 1, the secondary winding |01 of the transformer being connected with the electrodes 49 and 58 as generally disclosed in my application, Ser. No. 469,308, led December 17, 1942. Also included in the circuit is a cover operated switch |08 that may be of the same construction as the cover operated switch disclosed in my application, Ser. No. 469,308. The electrode 58 is connected in the circuit by a suitable flexible electrical wire connection of conventional form (not shown), the same being secured to the pivot bar 59.

In the other application for Letters Patent referred to above, Ser. No. 469,308, movement of the member corresponding to the swinging member 58, to release an animal after electrocution, is effected electrically. In the present instance this portion of the electrical part of the device is supplanted by the provision of a conventional dashpot 15 whose piston rod 16 connects with the swinging member 58, the piston 11 thereof being biased to the, position shown in Fig. 1 by a relatively light compression spring 18. A vent for the dash pot is designated 19 in Fig. 1. The weight of an animal will move the swinging member 58 to the right as viewed in Fig. 1 and the delaying action of the dashpot `is so proportioned as to allow time for certain electrocution of the animal before it drops from the electrocuting chamber to a lower portion of the trap where a box or drawer 80 may be provided for receiving animal bodies. The drawer 80 may be removed through a suitable opening |09 in the front wall |2 and for convenience the adjacent end of drawer 80 may comprise the closure for the wall opening although this detail forms no part of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An animal trap comprising an unobstructed longitudinal passageway, means adjacent said passageway at one side thereof and movable partly thereacross to impel an animal in Vits path,' other means adjacent said passageway at the other side thereof yand movable to traverse the remainder of said passageway by movement to- -ward said first means to impel an animal in its path to a predetermined zone between said two means,'and a casing portion adjacent said passageway, one of said means being further movable to said casing portion to propel into said casing portion an animal impelled to said predetermined zone by either of said means.

2. An animaltrap comprising an unobstructed longitudinal passageway having an arcuate portion, means adjacent said passageway and movable partly thereacross to impel an animal to the arcuate portion of said passageway, a casing adjacent the arcuate portion of said passageway, and rotatable means ydisposed concentrically of said arcuate portion with its axis horizontal and parallel to the extent of said passageway for traversing said arcuate portion and propelling an animal into said casing.

3. An animal trap comprising an unobstructed longitudinal passageway having a longitudinally extending arcuate portion with an entrance, means adjacent said passageway at one side thereof and movable partly thereacross to impel an animal to the arcuate portion of said passageway, a casing having an entrance above the entrance to the -arcuate portion of said passageway, and rotatable means disposed concentrically of said arcuate portion with its axis lengthwise of said passageway for traversing said arcuate portion and propelling an animal upwardly into said casing.

4. An animal trap comprising an unobstructed longitudinal passageway having a longitudinally extending arcuate portion, means adjacent said passageway at one side thereof and. movable partly thereacross to impel an animal to the arcuate portion of said passageway, a casing portion adjacent the arcuate portion of said passageway, rotatable means disposed concentrically of said arcuate portion with its axis lengthwise of said passageway for traversing said arcuate portion and propelling an animal into said casing portion, and means in said casing portion for stripping the animal body from the rotatable means.

5. An animal trap comprising an unobstructed longitudinal passageway, means adjacent said passageway and movable partly thereacross to impel an animal in its path, other means` adjacent said passageway at the opposite side thereof and rotatable toward said rst means about a horizontal axis parallel to said passageway to traverse the remainder of said passageway to impel an animal in its path, a casing portion adjacent said passageway, one of said means being movable to said casing portion to propel into said casing portion an animalinitially impelled by either of said means, and drive means for said rotatable means, said drive means continuing rotation of the rotatable means to starting position after the animal is propelled in the casing.

6. An animal trap comprising an unobstructed longitudinal passageway having an arcuate portion, means adjacent said passageway and mounted for swinging movement partly thereacross to impel an animal to the arcuate portion of said passageway, a casing adjacent the arcuate portion of said passageway, and rotatable means disposed concentrically with respect to said arcuate passage portion and with 4its vaxis fzhorizontal :,andi :parallele :to: said@ passageway 4for traversing said Y `arcuatefpcgrtion 4 and Apropelling an animal into said lcasing.

7. An animal; trap-:comprising an vunobstructed longitudinalpassageway having an arcuate portion, means4` adjacent said-passage way and movable partly thereacross, -said means.

being curvedto impel an animal` to the arcuate portion ofsaid passagewayfa.casingradjacent' the arcuate portion of .said passageway, vand l0 rotatable means disposed concentrically with respect to -said arcuate passage portion with its axis horizontaland parallel to said passageway for traversing said arcuate portion vand propelling an animal into said casing.

8. AAn animal trap i. comprising,` an unobstructed passageway, means. adjacent. said passageway and movable partly thereacross... to traverse `a portionbf. saidpas'sageway, other means adjacent., said, passageway. ,movablelto 20),". 2,170,470

traverse the remainder of said passageway by movement toward s aid first `means `to, conne an animal to a predetermined zone, ,anda casing having an entrance'portion,above'said passagenzf way, one of said means being further movable?, upwardly to said casing to propel into said cas-f: ing an animal initially impelled by either offA said means.

CHESTER W. CRUMRINE.A

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record `in the fileof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

